Power Rankings: Daytona to Kentucky

By Pat DeCola | Published: July 9, 2019 21

Gerald C. Donaldson | NASCAR Digital Media

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Gerald C. Donaldson | NASCAR Digital Media

NASCAR.com's Pat DeCola ranks the top 20 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers after the race at Daytona International Speedway and before Kentucky Speedway.

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JOLIET, ILLINOIS - JUNE 29: Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #17 Fastenal Ford, looks on during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Camping World 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on June 29, 2019 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

20. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (-1): Every other year of his career, Stenhouse has had a finish inside or outside the top 20 at Kentucky (17th, 25th, 11th, 40th, 14th and 28th from 2013-18). If the pattern holds, expect a finish inside the top 20 once again this weekend.

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LONG POND, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 01: Paul Menard, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, signs autographs for fans prior to qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 01, 2019 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Trotman | Getty Images

Driver: Paul Menard

Rank: 19

Change: Not ranked last week

Comment: Menard's re-entry to the Power Rankings could be short-lived. In eight career starts at Kentucky, he has no laps led, no top 10s and an average finish of 18.2.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - JULY 04: Daniel Suarez, driver of the #41 Haas Automation Ford, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 04, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Driver: Daniel Suarez

Rank: 18

Change: -4

Comment: In two races at Kentucky, Suarez has finished 18th and then 15th last year. He could use a spark, and Kentucky could provide a nice, solid top 10 -- though not a lock, by any means.

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JOLIET, ILLINOIS - JUNE 29: Erik Jones, driver of the #20 DeWalt Toyota, sits in his car during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Camping World 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on June 29, 2019 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Driver: Erik Jones

Rank: 17

Change: +1

Comment: It's just two races, but Jones has a pair of top 10s in his first two tries at Kentucky with an average finish of 6.5 -- which would be good for second in the series.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - JULY 04: Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Mobil 1/Rush Truck Centers Ford, sits in his car during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 04, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Driver: Clint Bowyer

Rank: 16

Change: +1

Comment: Bowyer desperately needs a turnaround, and quick. He finished third at Kentucky in 2013, but otherwise he has no top 10s and no laps led at the 1.5-mile track.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - JULY 04: Ryan Newman, driver of the #6 Roush Performance Ford, stands in the garage during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 04, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sean Gardner | Getty Images

Driver: Ryan Newman

Rank: 15

Change: +1

Comment: Newman has had a trio of top-four finishes at Kentucky, two of which have come in the past five years. He has led just two laps there, however, and finished outside the top 20 the past two seasons.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - JULY 04: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Credit One Bank Chevrolet, sits in garage during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 04, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sean Gardner | Getty Images

Driver: Kyle Larson

Rank: 14

Change: -1

Comment: Larson owns a less-than-great average finish of 21.0 at Kentucky, but he has righted the ship there the past two years with two top 10s and a runner-up.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - JULY 04: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 BodyArmor Ford, gets into his car during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 04, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Matt Sullivan | Getty Images

Driver: Ryan Blaney

Rank: 13

Change: -4

Comment: Blaney has just one lap led at Kentucky but might actually be a strong sleeper for the win. He was P2 last year, and Team Penske tends to run extremely well there.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - JULY 04: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, walks to his car during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 04, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sean Gardner | Getty Images

Driver: Jimmie Johnson

Rank: 12

Change: +3

Comment: Johnson has found a little something here lately and could keep it rolling at Kentucky, where he has notched five top 10s in eight races with 206 laps led.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - JULY 04: William Byron, driver of the #24 Axalta Patriotic Chevrolet, standuring practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 04, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sean Gardner | Getty Images

Driver: William Byron

Rank: 11

Change: +1

Comment: Byron was an even P20 in last year's Kentucky race but is coming off a runner-up at Daytona amidst a Hendrick Motorsports resurgence. We're certainly not betting against him this weekend.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - JULY 04: Aric Almirola, driver of the #10 Smithfield Anytime Favorites Ford, sits in his car during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 04, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Matt Sullivan | Getty Images

Driver: Aric Almirola

Rank: 10

Change: +1

Comment: Almirola finally broke through for his first top 10 at Kentucky last year but has never led a lap there. Stewart-Haas Racing is still winless, and he's their second-best shot to notch a victory this weekend.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - JULY 07: Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Valvoline Patriotic Chevrolet, stands on pit road prior to the start of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 07, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sean Gardner | Getty Images

Driver: Alex Bowman

Rank: 9

Change: -1

Comment: Only one of his three starts came in the No. 88, but Bowman still owns a ghastly 35.3 average finish at Kentucky. We're guessing he betters that this weekend.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - JULY 04: Kurt Busch, driver of the #1 Global Poker Chevrolet, speaks with Chase Elliott (not pictured), driver of the #9 NAPA Batteries Chevrolet, in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 04, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Driver: Kurt Busch

Rank: 8

Change: +2

Comment: Busch was one mistaken pit call from being even higher here, had he won Daytona. He has two top-six finishes in the past three Kentucky races.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - JULY 04: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Batteries Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 04, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Driver: Chase Elliott

Rank: 7

Change: -1

Comment: Elliott could be a threat to win this weekend after posting a third-place run in 2017 and given how well Hendrick is running at the moment.

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JOLIET, ILLINOIS - JUNE 29: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, stands on the grid during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Camping World 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on June 29, 2019 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Driver: Denny Hamlin

Rank: 6

Change: +1

Comment: When Hamlin runs well at Kentucky, he runs really well, with all three of his top 10s being finishes inside the top four. He hasn't led a lap since 2015, though.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - JULY 04: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John's Ford, looks on during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 04, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Driver: Kevin Harvick

Rank: 5

Change: --

Comment: Harvick finished 16th at Kentucky in 2011 and since has seven straight top-11 finishes there, culminating in last year's fifth-place run. A win is far from a guarantee -- but you can pretty much count on a strong run for Harvick this weekend.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - JULY 04: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 04, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Driver: Brad Keselowski

Rank: 4

Change: --

Comment: Keselowski is in the conversation as the best driver in the history of Kentucky, with three wins in the track's eight-race history. He might be the favorite as we head into the weekend.

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JOLIET, ILLINOIS - JUNE 29: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, stands on the grid during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Camping World 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on June 29, 2019 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Driver: Joey Logano

Rank: 3

Change: --

Comment: Logano had a three-race stretch from 2013-15 in which he averaged a top five, but he has struggled to find his footing the last three, with an average finish of 19.0.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - JULY 04: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #19 BassProShops/TRACKER ATVs Toyota, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 04, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

Driver: Martin Truex Jr.

Rank: 2

Change: --

Comment: Truex is the two-time defending winner of the race, is the defending pole winner and has led 150-plus laps each of the last two years. I might be re-thinking my previous favorite pick.

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JOLIET, ILLINOIS - JUNE 29: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Skittles Red White & Blue Toyota, stands on the grid during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Camping World 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on June 29, 2019 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Driver: Kyle Busch

Rank: 1

Change: --

Comment: All right, now I'm definitely re-thinking it. The two-headed Joe Gibbs Racing monster is top notch at Kentucky, with Busch being a two-time winner as well. He won the pole in 2017 and has six top fives in night races there. Hard to see how he's not in the mix for the win all race long.